ESPAÑOL

ABOUT US

We are a multi-national couple pursuing ways to improve the human condition, beginning with ourselves and our immediate environment. Our permaculture project, la Finca los Tres Mundos, was founded in June of 2007 in the mountain village of Mazatepec, Veracruz, Mexico. This 2 hectare farm is tucked neatly into the hills and includes grassland, forest areas and a spring-fed stream. It is a natural work of art, yet man´s footprint is clearly visible. We invite you to join us in this opportunity to explore the interactions between man and nature, and to imagine viable, sustainable solutions that can benefit all of us.

Since the farm is fairly new, at the moment we are working to improve the infrastructure of the property, make contacts and become established in the community. We have no electricity, and supplies must be brought in on foot or by horse/donkey. Turning any dream into a reality is a big project, and nothing happens overnight; but we are confident that with hard work, persistance and a positive attitude, we can achieve our vision and help create a better world.

 

Elham Shahidi Permaculture   Curiosity and an insatiable thirst for knowledge have propelled me through an amazing series of experiences. I have had the opportunity to work with and learn from extremely talented individuals from different countries, with different cultures and different ways of approaching problems – different ways of approaching life. My focus in these interactions has been sustainable living for individuals and communities within the problematic structure of the modern world. This is a difficult and complex issue, and I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge and learning from you as well. My specs: I graduated from Marlboro College (Marlboro, Vermont, USA) in 2001 with a Bachelor´s degree in Environmental Studies and Visual Arts. After graduating from Marlboro, I entered the Environmental Protection Agency of a Native American tribe in southern California, where I mapped and monitored water quality on and around the reservation. From 2003-2005 I traveled around the world working as a volunteer on organic farms, almost all of which employ permaculture practices. In 2006 I completed the Permaculture certification course in Caimito, Ecuador and, more recently, I have founded my own permaculture project – Finca los Tres Mundos in Mazatepec, Veracruz, Mexico.

Luis Uribe Stonework and Latin Dance   I´m a simple person who loves a challenge and who has a great curiosity for the mysteries that nature gives us every day. I grew up in the country on my grandparents´ farm, and as an adult I still find myself drawn to the countryside and to its people, who are the most sincere and who can most use our support in improving their quality of life sustainably with the resources they have available to them. Currently, I teach Latin dance styles such as salsa, cumbia and merengue. I also have over six years of experience in stonework: I began in the U.S. working with tile and soon moved on to materials including marble, granite, riverstone, and other natural (unfinished) stone. I especially like finding different ways to use stone to design and innovate anything from a kitchen spoon to a whole house. Aside from stonework, I also have experience in the field of motivational studies, personal development and other life skills which help people deal with their problems in a productive way, allowing them to achieve their goals and overcome any challenge, no matter how difficult it may seem. Well, this is a little piece of me - I hope to be of service by sharing what I know, and I look forward to meeting you.

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Campaign Against the Abuse of Animals: The treatment of animals in the village (and across the country) is generally terrible, but the situation of the horses is exceptionally repulsive. As work animals, they are subjected to heavy loads with unpadded wooden "saddles" which often don´t fit, leaving huge open sores which are left without care - only to be loaded up again the next day. The carcasses of those who don´t survive the overworking and undernourishment are simply discarded by the nearest stream.

We are dedicated to the complete elimination of this attitude and treatment of animals, especially horses - though we recognize this is the most difficult of our goals to achieve, due to the deep cultural and economic issues involved. We are working to contact government agencies, local veterinarians, and equine interest groups to help us find and implement the most effective permanent solution.

So far we have been successful in recruiting the help of Donkey Sanctuary, ILPH and UNAM in providing free treatment for horses, mules and donkeys, with some community workshops currently available. We hope to expand this service in the future to include dogs, cats, farm animals, and wild birds (frequently injured by slingshots).

WE NEED YOUR HELP to make this project successful. We are working toward a starting fund of $1,000, which we will use to rescue equines such as this one (click here - not for the weak of heart!) that have been worked nearly to death or are otherwise living in extremely inhumane conditions. We invite you to be a part of the solution - just click on the button below to donate as much or as little as you´d like - even a little goes a long way.

Your donation will be used for veterinary attention, equipment and nutritional supplements needed to nurse these animals back to health. A portion of donated funds will also go toward community outreach projects designed to raise awareness about animal health and encourage the humane treatment of animals.

You can use your credit or debit card to donate - simply click on the button below. Thank you so much for your support.

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES of animals that have been treated under this program.

Eco-building: We are building and experimenting with locally available and recycled materials, including clay, riverstone, glass and plastic bottles, used car tires, and tetrapak milk cartons.

Completed: Guest cabin and Lorena stove (click here for pictures and descriptions of the building process)

Information and Cultural Exchange: If we are to develop sustainable solutions, we must first understand the complexity of the social and ecological context in which we live – from both a local and a global perspective. We hope that our guests will gain a new perspective through their interactions and experiences with community members, and we hope that our community will also benefit from this influx of new knowledge, ideas and philosophies. We are members of WWOOF and accept volunteers throughout the year. We also welcome input, advice and suggestions from any of you who may have experience in similar situations. Please feel free to contact us with your ideas!

Reforestation: In the last 20 years the Mazatepec / Perote area has suffered heavy logging, as well as the gradual but consistent harvesting of trees for firewood. The area, which was once dense cloud forest, is now principally cattle pasture with small patches of shade trees. Nevertheless, local communities continue to depend on wood as their principal source of fuel and income, so the existing trees continue to be cut down and the villagers must travel further and further to meet their families´ daily fuel needs - and the natural springs which used to provide the village (and nearby towns) with a year-round supply of fresh water no longer give water during the dry season. As you may imagine, this causes hardship and conflict. In the past year we have planted over 100 trees, reforesting the three wooded areas on our farm. In the coming months we will be planting 500 more, donating another 500 to neighbors interested in reforesting their own land. In the future we would like to extend our efforts to other areas of the village, alongside a community outreach program encouraging sustainable practices and technologies.

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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

If our projects sound interesting to you, we welcome you to join us in our efforts. Mazatepec is an excellent place to learn about the benefits and challenges that come with living sustainably, and the farm atmosphere is ideal for reflexion and meditation. We accept volunteers throughout the year, exchanging accommodation and experience for an average of 6 hours of volunteer work per day, 5 days a week (flexible hours). Accomodation for volunteers is generally in an adobe cabin, though camping and homestay may also be available. Volunteers generally eat together and share the cost of food and the responsibility of cooking and cleaning. If you are interested, please contact us for more details.

Some things to consider:

* We live at high altitude. It gets very cold, year round. We have no indoor heating.
* We don't have road access during many times of the year. The hike in is a bit less than a quarter mile (half a kilometer) of mainly uphill mountain trail.

To best enjoy your visit, please come prepared.

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Contact Us

We can be reached at:

finca3mundos@gmail.com

Phone:

+521 228 143 6690
From within Mexico, dial 045 228 143 6690
From Xalapa, dial 044 228 143 6690


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